Thousands of people gathered in front of the Liver Building to run the eighth Liverpool Santa Dash

After beating Las Vegas to win the World Santa Challenge last year, thousands of red and blue Father Christmas runners ignored the bad weather to try to defend the Santa Dash title for Liverpool.

The official numbers are yet to be counted, but an estimated 7,000 people filled the streets in the city centre to run the annual 5km race. Las Vegas held their Santa Dash yesterday, so the announcement of this year's official winner is not far away.

The money from the Liverpool Santa
Dash, which started at the Pier Head
in front of the Liver Building and
finished next to the Town Hall, goes
to various charities, such as Liverpool
Unites.

Despite the shifting weather, the spirit
was seemingly good between the
runners. Men and women, boys and
girls, and even dogs, completed the
eighth Liverpool Santa Dash.

After the race was over, a mini-dash for
children aged under 12 was held in
Castle Street.

Although most Everton fans participated
in blue Santa suits, there were a few
exceptions running as the usual red
Father Christmas.

Blues supporter Andy Smith, from Liverpool, said: "My daughter dropped out so I'm a last minute contender. I'm a fanatic Evertonian, but there was not enough time to sort out a blue suit. I really enjoyed it though. It was quite hard as I'm not in the best shape, but it was worth it. It's all about the charity."